<B>Sports Web comments</B>

Tony: "Yes, for the good of the team and with all respect,
Hoffman should retire."

Jeff: "Retire based upon two games? C'mon folks. 1) Tony Gwynn
Jr. hit the ball off his shoe tops. Give Jr. credit. 2) In
Colorado, the air is thin and the ball stays up. Evidence Peavy.
Should Peavy be traded/retire because he had a bad game? Come to
your senses. Greg Maddux, he's doing fine. He's got a mid-80
fastball. How fast many of you are to sling the mud without
realizing what you're giving up."

Brad: "When all he has is a change-up and you get at least three
pitches, it's real easy to sit on one. He said he'll let the
hitters tell him when it's time to retire. Did he hear them the
last two games of '07?"

Narrow Minded: "Only a fool would suggest retirement based on
two games. How narrow minded. Look at his stats over the past four
years; not to mention that he was among the top three this year.
Why not wait until he falls out of the top 10 at least. Nothing
like a fair weather fan (reporter) to call for the retirement of a
great player, team leader, role model and city icon based on a
score of a single game and not the facts."

Bolter: "Trevor should stay. However, he should take a back seat
and start grooming younger players. Again, his performance is
gauged by how effective he is as a closer, and clearly he was not
effective against the Rockies (nor was the umpiring since he never
did touch home plate as was tagged out). Trevor needs to lift and
get more upper body strength to increase speed of his pitches in
the offseason. But he should stay until the end of his contract. He
is replaceable, as we saw with Bruce Bochy, but he must do
something to remain competitive as he gets older."

Readers' responses to an Oct. 12 story on Chargers
linebacker Shawne Merriman:

Observer: "If this story is true, why isn't the rest of the team
getting sacks? If the opponents are putting 2 or 3 players on one
guy then some else should be getting great opportunities to get to
the QB, right? Oh yeah, I forgot, AJ in his brilliance got rid of
our experienced LBs because he didn't like them or they weren't yes
men enough for him! The same reason he got rid of Marty, remember!
Maybe that explains it or maybe as the rumors go it is because
"Lights Out" had his lights turn off when he had to stop doping!
Yo, Lights Out, it is up to you to build your reputation back after
your doping year, pro bowl and records. Can you do it without dope?
YOUR public is watching!"

Zack: "If Merriman is being double-teamed, then hopefully
Cottrell will make the necessary adjustments. If the Chargers are
unable to put pressure on the QB, then they will lose. Fortunately
for the Chargers, they are playing one of the least mobile QBs in
the league. This is a very important game for the Chargers. Do they
build on their success of last week, or do they take a step back
and have a pity party. At this point, no team in the AFC West has
any hope of making it to the Super Bowl."

Larry: "Observer - Your comments are just plain tired. You have
no idea what led to Marty's firing nor the facts that led to Donnie
Edwards leaving as a free agent. Everyone keeps talking about AJ's
ego. How many people have actually met him? Maybe you would rather
have Bobby Beathard back or Harland Svare or the countless others
that led this franchise years and decades of 4-12 seasons. Give it
a rest."

Northernmost Bolthead: "Zack said, "One of the least mobile QBs
in the league". .. Huh? Doesn't Culpepper, in limited play, have,
like 3 or 4 rushing touchdowns already this year? Rivers has one in
a year and a quarter. Culpepper's knee seems fine."

Observer to Larrrry: "Have you forgotten Harrison, Seau, and a
score of others, all released because aj (yeah,little a little j)
had to have the team his way instead of the coaches way! Then he
has to get rid of Marty on the same year the Chargers knew they
were going to lose most of the coaching staff, just so he AGAIN had
it his way. Marty may not have been the total answer but by him not
putting aside his mammoth ego he has crushed this team. Now they
are lucky to be in the weakest division in pro football, they may
salvage a 9-7 record if they are lucky. That may even mean they get
into the playoffs just because of the divison they are in. It is
certainly not because we have a team that is playing like a team or
a coaching staff that has even an outside chance of coaching this
team this year! So, that's my 2 cents worth, refute it if you
can!!!' "

Readers' responses to an Oct. 11 story on Chargers head
coach Norv Turner facing his old team, the Raiders, on
Sunday:

Silver and Black: "Go Raiders!"

Bobby: "Yes, Turner is laughing! Al Davis had to pay up the
contract to get rid of him! He also will be laughing when Spanos
has had enough. No one but a nut case like Mr. Smith, would give a
guy with a losing record as a HC, a four-year contract! Let's hope,
post 'roids, Merriman does not have become a movie star as post
'riods Bosworth!"

FLORIDA BOLT: "Don't be fooled that all the sudden Culpepper is
a real QB, I had seen this poor excuse for a QB make a bad team
HORRIBLE. I know better as the Dolphins are our home team.This guy
can't get out of his own way. He beat the worst team in the NFL in
a payback game but as we saw he looked like he was dragging a
refrigerator behind him.JOE NAMATH has better knees than this HAS
BEEN does.THIS WON'T HAPPEN AGAINST THE CHARGERS.The only running
this guy will be doing will be running for his life!! REALITY
CATCHES UP WITH YOU SUNDAY!!! HEY BOLT FANS; they will all be gone
Monday back into their holes in the ground for another year."

Roy: "I am going to the game with 3 Raider fans. I bought them
little Raider towels so they can use it to dry their tears after
the game. It only takes one Charger fan to out cat call 3 Raider
fans. The Raiders are going from first to last in a three hour span
(today). I will enjoy seeing the Raider losers with agony on their
faces at the post game tailgate. Chargers 35 Raiders 3."

Dave: " First off charger fans you guys have sucked for as far
back as i can remeber Raiders lead the series 58-38 you win 7 and
get all happy reality is you guys took forever to get better and
still cant do anything speak up when you get a superbowl the real
loosers are the bolts and when the raiders win on sunday the only
ones crying will be charger fans because you still will never know
what its like to win the one that counts most.- "

Raider Marcus: "Oh no…the bus has got air in the tires and gas
in the tank! someone start up that band wagon!! Sad to see a week
prior you guys were chanting "Marty Marty Marty" Norv is a nice guy
and yes Nice guys do finish last. Note that every featured back
who's started under Norv hasn't played a complete 16 game season
due to injury.(translation, over worked) The Raiders Will when
where we started the downward spiral and monday will call for
Norv's head again! Raiders 24, Chargers 13 and someone better get
SDG&E to Re-Charge this super bowl season…hahahahahaha "

Pedro: "Hay rader fans yoo is bad pepo… "

Princess ;-: "Raiders, stay out of OUR newspaper comments! At
least our Chargers have decent, civilized, and mature fans unlike
the Raiders who have prison convicts as a fanbase. Seriously, have
you seen them? They look like thugs and jailbait, lol. GO
BOLTS!!!!!!!!! "

NO COUNTY: "Is the game sold out? I hope not, that's the only
way I can watch the Boys vs Pats game on the big HD plasma with a
clean restroom and free food nearby. 5-0 vs 5-0 sounds like fun
game to watch. "

Don't Hate: "Don't hate just because the Chargers can't fill a
stadium with their OWN fans. Every game against the Raiders in San
Diego might as well be a home game for us. In 1 week when you all
remove yourselves from the bandwagon you will be back to crying
like you have been since 1960… "

Lights Out for Culpepper & Lamont Jordan: "Merriman tested
negative for , season missed 4 games & still had 17 sacks. Our
new D-coordinator has heard the fans plea`s it is time to unleash
Merriman & Phillips IT`S TIME "

To Princess: "It's sad that you think that way, if I am correct
wasn't a chocker fan beating up on a US MARINE seen on tv all over
the country??? He didnt look like a decent guy to me, oh wait he
had a shaved head must be a RAIDER fan think again you have the
same bunch of fans only differnce is we are always cheering our
RAIDERS!!! WIN LOSE OR TIE!! I guess you choker fans cant say the
same. Read a few from up top dosen't sound civilized, mature and
decent anymore does it?? BooBoo!! dont get scared, By the way hook
me up with your# you might like me, like the saying says girls like
bad boys not sissies well here I am a RAIDER FAN!!!!
RRRRAAAAIIDDEEERRRSSS!!! see you sunday ahahahhahhhhahaaaa "

RaiderGod: "Hey Princess, you're being uncivilized by telling
Raiders fans to stay out of your newspaper comments. Last time I
checked this was public and not limited to your own needs,
princess. And by giving an irrational generalization of a fanbase,
your are being immature and uncivilized. Anyway, I hope that the
Raiders will pull this win and end this losing streak. However, the
injuries to Burgess and Warren are going to kill us with Tomlinson
running the ball. If the Charges are going to pass the ball alot,
the Raiders will capitalize on turnovers. I think that it'll be a
good game. It all comes down to if Norv really fixed the team or
not. After seeing him coach the Raiders, I'm pretty sure he hasn't…
"

Fake Nation: "RaiderGod you are a false God & wil be treated
as such. We will throw rotten fruit at you & force you to wear
Al Davis`s lingerie after the Chargers Anhialate your pittiful
excuse for a football team. Norv knows the Raiders as did Chuckie
in XXXVII. Funny thing is most of the socalled Raider fans can`t
even name 10 current players on the Oakland roster. Fake fans Fake
Nation. "

tx_bolt: "Raiders the Chargers are going to take your sorry
coach (Norv) and despite that we are still going to make it 9 and
yes I said 9 straight wins agains you guys…. Just like Gruden
punking you guys…Norv will get his to… Raiders are on top of the
AFC west by beating the Browns and Miami….HA.HA.HA..HA…What a
joke….Come out and play on Sunday..The vapour trail you will see is
SM and SP on their way to putting the lighs out of your QB. The
real joke is next year you all will suck just as bad because JR you
QB will be essencially a rookie…So I will predict right now it will
be a long time before your team can beat the Chargers even once in
a season…HA..HA..HA…Now that is a joke…and I do not mean funny ha
ha..I mean your team is a joke…Later and see you on Sunday."

BigRaider805: "win a superbowl son and then we will talk till
then shut yer piehole"

FRUSTRATED RAIDER: "I know were in 1st place at 2 and 2 but were
yet to play such a talent laiden team as the Chargers.I really hope
we win but im not feeling to good about are chances,it seems this
is the one team that we just don't know how to beat anymore.We
haven't beaten them in four years and we lost last 27-0 to them
last year at home,I just can't remember when the last time we beat
them its been so long ago.I feel that the Chargers are built to
beat us, as we can,t stop the run and they have the best 2 backs in
the league and LT always has his career games against us.Who is
going to stop A Gates the best reicever in the game,look what he
did to denver.They also have a franchise QB and soon to be star in
WR V Jackson.They had 9 sacks against us last year and the defense
is getting better every game.We seem to have alot of "has been"
players on our team while the Chargers have built their team from
the draft so they will be around for a long while.As much as I
would like to win this game,until we do I will show the Chargers
and their fans the highest respect as deserved. "

FrighteningLightning: "What's funny is that the Chargers have
OWNED the Raiders the past four years, home and away, yet the
Raider Nationettes continue to flap their gums about this and that.
True, you have GREAT fanbase support, but the Bolts are BACK, and
the Raiders and their FAN-nies will get a reality check Sunday. SD
34 OAK 21. Lights Out!- "

FrighteningLightning: "Refer to the Frustrated Raider fan
comments at the bottom. A Raider fan that's honest, cognizant of
what's up with his team, and realistic. Imagine that. Darth Vader
can't even save you Sunday, Raider fans. Appreciate you coming out
though and your fidelity and zeal. Like I said: Bolts 34, Raiders
21- "

Chewey: " ViVa La Chargers.- "

Aaron: "The chargers have not won a playoff game since 1994. The
chargers are irrelevant. They are a joke of a franchise. By the
third quarter the charger fairweather fans will be chanting for
marty again. The bandwagon will be empty monday morning. Again.
Joke of a fanbase and joke of a franchise. Merrimaid is not the
same without the roids. Cute dance though. Raiders own you!"